June 2024
This month, Carmel Monthly is thrilled to feature Artomobilia Executive Director and Founder John Leonard on its cover. The magazine’s editorial team is also proud to be a longtime supporter and a media sponsor of Artomobilia.
We sat down with Leonard to discuss what fuels his drive and commitment to organizing this exceptional event, which, in partnership with the City of Carmel, draws upwards of 25,000 people each year to the heart of Carmel, Indiana. Leonard shared insights on what exhibitors, guests and local businesses can expect at the 17th annual Artomobilia.
Artomobilia’s Exhilarating Evolution
When we sat down to discuss what is new this year, Leonard took us back to the humble beginnings of Artomobilia, which took place in Indianapolis in conjunction with Formula 1 and was organized by Roger Brummett and Andrew Lee. Leonard was also involved with the event. Once Formula 1 left Indy and after conversations with former Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard, Leonard reorganized the event and moved it to its current location in Carmel’s Arts and Design District, where it continues to evolve and increase its economic impact throughout the local business community.
Leonard said, “I’m a conduit to the automotive community to the degree that we can bring it to Carmel to enjoy and share what’s happening in Carmel. I’ve said it a thousand times, ‘If you ever had to try to come up with another Artomobilia, where would you even attempt it?’”
Along with Leonard, Artomobilia’s dedicated volunteer committee continues to enhance the event’s infrastructure, technology and communication capabilities, attracting notable car clubs and national and regional sponsors. Artomobilia has become a first-class event held at an extraordinary venue known for its architecture and expansive retail and dining offerings.
Leonard added, “Artomobilia is the number-one revenue day for every restaurant in the Arts and Design District. We try to recreate [Artomobilia] every year in a safe, sustainable and supportable way so that we’re not putting cars at risk or guests at risk. We’re constantly looking at how we can continually improve it to make it an even better experience for those who are joining us, whether they’re bringing a car or their family/friends, and for those who have businesses in the Arts & Design District, along the Monon Boulevard and in the Midtown section of Carmel. We want it to be an awesome experience for everyone.”
Featuring nearly 500 enthusiast and collector cars on the streets of Carmel, Artomobilia boasts one of the most eclectic gatherings of original, period-correct vehicles. The event showcases an array of supercars, exotics, sports cars, classics, racers, historically preserved vehicles and more.
Over the years, Leonard and his team have expanded the Artomobilia experience by organizing auxiliary events with a philanthropic component, transforming it into a Friday evening and Saturday extravaganza.
“We’re going to do VELOCE, our hangar party, on Friday, September 6 at 7 p.m. at the Indianapolis Executive Airport in Zionsville,” Leonard shared. “We’re going to move SHIFT from [Artomobilia] weekend to the last weekend of October, so stay tuned for more details on that.”
VELOCE, the pre-party to Artomobilia, will host over 500 guests and showcase 50 collector hypercars and supercars, private aircraft, exceptional motorcycles, car clubs and more at the exclusive Jet Access at the Indianapolis Executive Airport.
“I’m working on a food partner and hoping it will be one of the restaurants that’s featured in the Arts and Design District,” Leonard said. “I’m always trying to keep everything in the family, so to speak. No need to go out of the A&DD when we’ve got great chefs here.”
This Year’s Featured Marque Is …
Part of the allure of Artomobilia is the reveal of the featured marque and the exhibition of that [marque] at the event each year. This year’s featured marque is Aston Martin.
Aston Martin’s performance heritage, deeply rooted in motorsports, began with Lionel Martin’s victory in the 1914 Aston Hill Climb, inspiring the company’s name and establishing its racing legacy. The brand’s iconic status was further cemented in 1959 with a historic win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, epitomizing its commitment to engineering excellence. In the realm of production cars, the DB5, launched in 1963 and famously associated with James Bond, became a symbol of Aston Martin’s blend of luxury, elegance, and performance.
Embracing modern advancements, Aston Martin has ventured into electrification and sustainable technology with their all-electric Rapide E and the hybrid-electric Valkyrie, which showcase the brand’s commitment to innovative performance.
“There’s quite a number of Aston Martin owners here in Indianapolis, but it’s not a car that you see very much or hear about very much, though it’s an absolutely gorgeous vehicle,” Leonard stated. “The closest dealership is in Chicago or the Columbus/Cincinnati area. We’ll have local Aston Martins, and we’re working with the dealerships to bring additional Aston Martins to display at Artomobilia.”
A Passion for People and Artomobilia
When asked what continues to fuel his drive for organizing one of Carmel’s best annual events and the best car show in the Midwest, Leonard replied, “It’s my ‘golf’ game. Some guys play golf, or put their time into different things. I love doing Artomobilia. I love talking about it and organizing it. I enjoy all of the buildup to it all, all of the background planning and all the conversations with people that I have on how to do the logistics and how to make it a great experience. This is where I enjoy spending time, and it’s with these people that I enjoy spending time with.”
When Leonard is not coordinating the various [automotive] corals, volunteers and working with event sponsors, he works at TRIMEDX, an independent clinical asset management company, and he is an active member of St. Elizabeth Seton in Carmel along with his wife, with whom he has raised three young adult children as Carmel residents.
Leonard concluded, “We are fully immersed in Carmel. I grew up on the west side in Brownsburg and lived in California after graduating from Butler University for 11 years. We moved back here with our then six-month-old daughter, and that was 23 years ago. We absolutely love Carmel and the people in Carmel. It provides a unique opportunity to organize Artomobilia, on behalf of the city of Carmel.”
Don’t miss the 17th annual Artomobilia on Saturday, September 7, 2024, at 11 a.m. in the Arts and Design Center. For a complete list of events, information on how to register your automobile, and to learn how to become a sponsor or member of the Artomobilia volunteer corps, visit artomobilia.org.
EVENTS | 2024 SCHEDULE
CSO 24 | SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
